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Surat Suspends Five Engineers After Contested Nasirnagar Slum Demolition

The move is meant to allow a fair departmental inquiry as the Gujarat High Court probes police conduct and alleged links to a private builder.

Overview

  • The demolition drive that began on May 30 removed roughly 100–106 houses in the Nasirnagar slum, and residents say they received no prior notice or due process.
  • Surat Municipal Corporation has suspended two executive engineers, a deputy engineer, an assistant engineer and a junior engineer following a special fact-finding committee report.
  • The Gujarat High Court has sharply questioned why heavy police presence did not stop the razing and has issued notices to a private builder while scheduling further hearings.
  • SMC says the suspensions were ordered so a departmental inquiry can be conducted fairly and transparently, and the state has deployed a specialised team to investigate the operation and police role.
  • Affected families remain without homes and have filed petitions in the High Court; the next court hearing is set to review the civic inquiry and examine accountability for officials and others involved.